Councils use election to lobby for inland rail

The Parkes Shire says it wants to see lobbying for a railway from Melbourne to Brisbane intensified in the lead up to the federal election.

The council has voted to put a motion forward at the Australian Local Government Association's conference next month to call for a commitment to build the track during the current decade.

The Mayor of Parkes Ken Keith says the route would have significant economic benefits for the Central West.

He says he is calling on current and future governments to get behind the project.

"Oh look I'd like to see commitment out of both sides of politics," he said.

"So whoever wins the election actually commits to funding it.

"We'd like to see some funds committed in forward budgets to the building of the railway line rather than just the corridor acquisition as well, so that we can get on with this great piece of needed infrastructure."

Councillor Keith says there would be benefits for all communities along the route.

"We're hoping to also improve outlooks for a lot of other towns that live in the Central West of New South Wales," he said.

"They'll be able to have businesses and industries in their town and be able to connect into that freight line and be able to generate whole region wide benefits to the economy."